FAYETTEVILLE -- Residents who depend on a federal program to fix their homes, feed their pets or get a ride to the doctor could lose those services without adequate support, according to the city's community assistance officials.
The Community Resources Division hosted an event Wednesday at the Town Center to showcase a number of its programs that benefit low-income residents. More than $2.6 million has gone toward various assistance programs and nonprofit groups in the last five years, according to the division.
CDBG Community Investment
2013-2017
• Arts Live Theatre: $7,555
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of NWA: $15,000
• CASA of NWA: $20,000
• Credit Counseling of Arkansas: $5,009
• Fayetteville Senior Center: $352,491
• Head Start: $47,972
• Hearth Program: $156,560
• Housing Rehabilitation Program: $1,458,000
• LifeSource International: $128,958
• NWA Free Health Center: $5,851
• Peace at Home Family Shelter: $10,000
• Prism Education Center: $41,030
• Redevelopment: $319,797
• Salvation Army: $5,000
• Transportation (Taxi and Transit): $95,346
• Yvonne Richardson Community Center: $5,745
• Total: $2,674,314
Source: Fayetteville Community Resources Division
President Donald Trump's proposed budget for fiscal 2019 lists eliminating the Community Development Block Grant program among major savings and reforms. The program isn't well-targeted to the neediest populations and hasn't demonstrated a measurable impact on communities, according to the budget. State and local governments are better positioned to address local community and economic development needs, the budget states.
The city uses the federal money it receives from the CDBG program for its own programs. Yolanda Fields, director of the Community Resources Division which administers the federal money, said the city alone likely can't sustain the programs.
"We need people to know that these programs exist and to be communicating with their legislators that this funding does not need to go to zero," said. "We need to keep it alive."
Ranger's Pantry Pet Food Bank has given out 140,000 pounds of pet food to 5,000 pets since 2010. The Hearth program has helped find housing for 79 adults and 94 children since February 2016. More than $1.4 million has gone toward making home repairs for low-income and/or elderly residents since 2013.
The Community Resources Division serves as a leg of a larger table of other organizations throughout the region tackling homelessness and housing equity, Fields said. Losing one leg could have a dire effect on the others, and subsequently the people who need the help, she said.
The Hearth program pays a portion of rent depending on household income. It provides case management for transitional and permanent housing. Currently 35 adults and 28 children are housed under the program.
The point of the program is to get low-income residents on the path of self-sufficiency, said Kelly Colebar, community resources administrator.
The need will always be there, no matter how successful the program is, she said.
"I do believe we're making an impact because the majority of the people who have left, have left in a stronger position," she said.
Erika Wilhite, founder of Artist's Laboratory Theatre, came to Wednesday's event to show support the Hearth program and research for a play centered around community issues.
"We have learned a lot about housing and food insecurity, we've learned about transit and how that's interrupting efforts in maintaining and sustaining housing because of employment," she said. "It's all connected."
People who need assistance can call 575-8260.
NW News on 03/22/2018